Combination flashlight, gun, and billy



Jan. 20, 1953 v. B. O'BRIEN ErAL COMBINATION FLASHLIGHT, GUN, AND BILLY Filed Dec. 27, 1949 INVENTORS 9"'\ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 20, I953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Victor B. O'Brien and Eldridge B. Robertson,

' Alhambra, Calif.

Application December 27, 1949, Serial No. 135,055

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to a combination flashlight, gun and billy, and included in the obJects of our invention are:

First, to provide a combination of this class wherein one or more gun units adapted for the discharge of tear gas, are incorporated in a flashlight case in such a manner as to be fired in the direction of a flashlight beam and which incorporates a novel operating means whereby the gun units may be fired in conjunction with operation of the flashlight or independently thereof.

Second, to provide a device of this class wherein the guns may be effectively locked against accidental operation.

Third, to provide on the whole a compact and efiicient weapon to be carried by policemen and guards, as well as the military.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of our device.

Figure 2 is an end view thereof, taken from the plate 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, taken through 33 of Figure 2.

, Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional partial elevational view showing particularly th gun trigger and firing pin mechanism.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through l! of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through 8-8 of Figure 4, showing the firing pin and gun unit.

Figure 9 is a sectional View through 99 of Figure 8, showing the firing pins latched in their retracted position.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the cocking plate.

Our device includes a tubular battery case I adapted to receive batteries 2 and closed at one end by a cap 3 containing a spring loaded contact 4 for engagement with the batteries.

The opposite end of the battery case recess is screw-threaded to receive a tubular body 5. The

body 5 includes a boss 6 which extends radially inwardly partly across the battery case I and is provided with a collar 1 located eccentrically with respect to the battery case and directed outwardly therefrom. The collar 1 supports the base end of a light bulb 8. The light bulb base is held in place by a spring II] which engages a ferrule 9 attached to or forming an integral part of a reflector ll surrounding the light bulb and extending forwardly therefrom. The reflector is held in place by means to be described hereinafter.

The boss i5 supports on its side facing the batteries 2, a spring contact l2 which is insulated from the boss and engaged by the terminal of the adjacent battery. The spring contact [2 extends diametrically across the battery case I and is folded upon itself to form a spring end which is engageable with the terminal of the light bulb 8. Normally, the contact I2 is out of engagement but is movable into engagement by a pin Id of insulating material which is slidably mounted in an axial bore located in the wall of the body 5 and is thus disposed exteriorly of the battery case I. The pin It protrudes from the tubular body and is engageable by a collar l5 rotatably mounted on the battery case i. For purposes which will be brought out hereinafter, the collar E5 is provided with deep recesses l6 separated by a pair of shallow recesses ll. When the pin M enters the deep recesses it, the flashlight is in its off condition and when the pin enters the shallow recesses It the flashlight is in its on condition.

Attached to the body 5 and extending axially therefrom is a gun body it. Axially extending screws l9 secure the gun body in place. The gun body is provided with an eccentric opening 20 coaxial with the light bulb 8. The opening is provided with an internal flange behind which fits a transparent covering 2|, the margins of which are yieldably engaged by the reflector I! under urge by the spring Ill.

The gun body is provided with one or more (in this case two) gun bores 22. Each gun bore receives a cartridge (not shown) contained in a casing 23. The casing 23 is tubular and of sufficient strength to resist the internal pressures created upon firing the cartridge. The cartridge itself may be conventional and comprise a small explosive charge and tear gas chemicals or other chemicals, or the cartridge may be a small gun unit arranged to fire bullets. In any case, the casing 23 is provided with an external groove 24 near its forward end adapted to be engaged by a latch pin 25 mounted radially in a socket provided in the gun body. One end of the latch pin 25 is exposed so that it may be depressed to release the gun casings 23. A spring 26 mounted within the opening 20 urges the latch pin 25 outwardly to retain the gun casings 23.

The tubular body 5 is provided with a recess in alignment with the gun bores 22. Fitted in this recess is a firing pin block 2'! having axial bores in alignment with the gun bores and adapted to receive firing pins 28. A guide plate 29 apertured to admit the extremities of the firing pins 28 separates the firing pin bores from the gun bores. Springs 39 urge the firing pins 28 forwardly. A slot 3| is provided in the firing block between the firing pin bores and apertures communicate between the firing pin bores and the slot 31. Fitted in these apertures are keeper balls 32 which are engaged with the firing pins 28 to hold them in their retracted positions. The keeper balls 32 in turn are held in place by a trigger bar 33 which is reciprocable in the slot 3!. The trigger bar 33 is provided with side notches so that the keeper balls may drop therein to release the firing pins upon operation of the trigger bar. A spring 3 yieldably retains the trigger bar 33 in cocked position. The trigger bar 33 extends axially and rearwardly from the body 5 and is recessed as indicated by 35 to clear the collar I5. The collar I5 in turn is notched as indicated by 35, so that when the collar is turned to bring the notch 36 into registry with the recess 35, the trigger bar 33 may be actuated.

Axially slidable on the tubular body 5 is a cocking sleeve 31 which carries a cocking plate 38 having lugs 39 which ride in slots formed in the firing pin block and communicates with the firing pin bores. When the cocking sleeve 31 is moved rearwardly, that is, away from the gun body 18, the firing pins 28 are likewise moved rearwardly against the action of their springs 30 until latched by the keeper balls 32. In this condition the exposed extremity of the trigger bar 33 clears the notch 36 in the collar l5 so that the collar l5 may be rotated. Upon rotation of the collar [5 to place its notch 36 out of registry with the trigger bar 33, the trigger bar is restrained against forward or firing movement. The pin recesses l5 and I! in the collar l5 are so arranged that the flashlight may be turned off and on with the trigger bar cocked but locked against firing. Still further, the recess 36 has suflicient width that the flashlight may be turned ofi and on while the trigger bar is in its cocked but unlocked position.

Operation of our combination flashlight, gun and billy is as follows:

When desiring to use the device solely as a flashlight, the collar [5 is turned so as to place the notch 36 out of registry with the trigger bar 33. While out of such registry, the collar l5 may be turned to move one set of depressions l6 and I1 past the pin Is to open or close the circuit to the bulb 8.

When desiring to permit operation of the gun, the collar I5 is rotated until the notch 36 is in registry with the trigger bar 33. This brings the other set of depressions l6 and I7 into position for operation of the pin I4 to open and close the circuit to the bulb 8.

Under the condition of registry between the notch 36 and trigger bar 33, the trigger bar may be moved forwardly by the users thumb. In doing so, the key bolts 32 release the firing pins 23, causing the cartridge contained in shell 23 to fire.

The head formed by the members l8 and 31 forms an effective club or billy when wielded by the handle or battery case 1.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A combination of the class described, involving: a body structure definin a flashlight cavity and a gun bore at one side thereof; a

flashlight unit in said flashlight cavity; a gun unit adapted to fit said gun bore; firing means for said gun unit including a trigger bar; switch means for said flashlight unit including a rotatable collar; said rotatable collar and trigger bar being engageable with each other whereby for certain positions of said collar said trigger bar may be actuated and for certain other positions of said collar said trigger bar is locked against operation.

2. A combination of the class described, involving: a body structure defining a gun bore adapted to receive a gun cartridge, and a flashlight cavity ofiset from said gun bore; a battery case connected to said body structure and forming a handle therefor; a flashlight unit in said flashlight cavity, a control means therefor including a collar journaled about the axis of said body, a contact member and a connecting member between said contact member and collar; firing means for a cartridge recessed in said gun bore, said firing means including a firing pin and a trigger bar, said trigger bar protruding from said body structure and traversing said collar; said collar being movable between a position restraining said trigger bar and a position permitting operation thereof.

3. A combination of the class described, involving: a body structure defining a gun bore adapted to receive a gun cartridge, and a flashlight cavity offset from said gun bore; a battery case connected to said body structure and forming a handle therefor; a flashlight unit in said flashlight cavity, a control means therefor including a collar journaled about the axis of said body, a contact member and a connecting member between said contact member and collar; firing means for a cartridge recessed in said gun bore, said firing means including a firing pin and a trigger bar, said trigger bar protruding from said body structure and traversing said collar; said collar being movable between a position restraining said trigger bar and a position permitting operation thereof; and a sleeve axially slidable on said body structure to cock said firing pin for subsequent release by said trigger bar.

4. A combination of the class described, involving: a body structure defining a gun bore in its peripheral portion extending parallel to the axis of said body structure and adapted to receive a gun cartridge; a firing pin for engaging said gun cartridge; a trigger bar also extending parallel to the axis of said body structure, means operable to cause said trigger bar to restrain said firing pin; a sleeve carried by said body structure operable to cock said firing pin for subsequent release by said trigger bar; means rotatable with respect to said body structure for locking said trigger bar to restrain said firing pin in its cocked position; a flashlight unit disposed in said body structure; a battery case extending from said body structure; and a switch for said flashlight unit operable by said rotatable means.

VICTOR B. OBRIEN. ELDRIDGE B. ROBERTSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,461,600 Cottrell July 10, 1923 1,970,501 Driggs Aug. 14:, 1934 2,069,293 Wiley Feb. 2, 1937 

